We are two weeks away from the official reveal of the all-new C8 Corvette model, which breaks with 70 years of tradition by putting its engine behind the driver. Even though some of the specs are becoming clear, we still don't know what GM is trying to achieve here.
As Bob Lutz recently put it, no Porsche 911 owner will ever switch to a Corvette, so it would have been better to build an SUV instead. Well, they might do it for YouTube clicks, but the point is the new Chevy can't take over the market. Or can it?
GM may not have the best reliability ratings. But if we're honest here, Ferraris and Porsches probably brake down just as much as Corvettes, if not more. American technology packages have been getting better as well, with lightning-fast steering and adaptive suspension systems appearing in recent years. But it's that final level of precision and polish that's been missing.
By moving the engine to the other end, Chevy will allow people to whisper words like "Porsche rival" and "budget supercar." This means the C8 Corvette could also ask for more money without batting an eye. In a recent podcast, an ex Corvette ride and handling engineer said they benchmarked a bunch of other cars, expensive ones.
The Audi R8, Acura NSX, Ferrari 458 and Porsche 911 were all mentioned. But the engineer is concerned that with most of the weight over the back, the new Corvette's handling won't be as good as before. Obviously, these aren't the only misgivings people have had with the car, as the V8 was previously said to twist the chassis.
The Corvette isn't the first GM product to go mid-engined. That title belongs to the Pontiac Fiero, and we all know how that went. So keep your fingers crossed, because with the Camaro recently being killed, all the hopes of traditional American V8 muscle are riding on this bad boy.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News